Cadence Soaks Up Summer with Native Gardens on the Wilton House Museum Lawn
Artwork by Jess Cimicata
By Liv Wilson
Cadence Theatre will present Native Gardens written by Karen Zacarías, directed by Rusty Wilson with assistant direction and dramaturgy by Juliana Caycedo, on the front lawn of the Wilton House Museum. Cadence is thrilled to revive the Sitelines program again this year. Members of the Cadence community may remember the production of Annie Baker's The Flick at The Byrd Theatre years ago. Native Gardens proves to be as exhilarating and experiential on the front lawn. Bring your picnic and lawn chairs and join us for an outdoor performance of this hilarious, hot-button comedy.
Native Gardens follows Pablo and Tania, a high-powered lawyer and doctoral candidate respectively, who have just moved into their dream home in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. With it being a fixer upper and all, they decide to transform their yard into a lovely native garden. Their next door neighbors, Frank and Virginia, also enjoy tending to their garden, a blooming brigade of non-native plants grown to win them the annual gardening competition in the neighborhood. Frank and Virginia give a hearty welcome to Pablo and Tania, however these pleasantries soon vanish when Pablo discovers that their property line is 2 feet into Frank’s beloved garden. Friction ensues, then an all-out border dispute erupts as the two couples show their true colors.
Director Rusty Wilson
The primary objective of the artistic team in this production is to confront and overcome stereotypes present within this environment, both through the portrayal of the characters and the expectations of the audience. Director, Rusty Wilson, finds great admiration in how the narrative defies preconceived notions surrounding these couples. Regardless of age, wealth, ethnicity, or professional backgrounds, the story challenges our assumptions. This is also mirrored in the depiction of their gardens, which symbolize these societal assumptions. Rusty's directorial approach consistently revolves around unearthing the shared humanity within a piece, dismantling barriers and uncovering commonalities rather than fixating on differences.
Assistant Director and Dramaturg, Juliana Caycedo, says it didn’t take long for her to connect with the young couple at the center of Native Gardens after her first read, “As a daughter of Colombian immigrants born and raised in the United States, I have overheard and been a part of many conversations that are similar to the ones had in the show between the warring neighbors.”
Assistant Director and Dramaturg Juliana Caycedo
Caycedo explains, “When approaching the show dramaturgically, I wanted to focus on giving the actors a cultural and ethnic foundation for each of their characters' specific backgrounds, which vary economically as much as geographically… I felt it was crucial to provide the actors with enough accurate historical information to aid in their creation of nuanced memories for their characters.”
Actor Amber Martinez
Amber Martinez, playing the role of Tania Del Valle, also notes the nuance of the characters amidst disputes of border walls that feel all too familiar, “What stuck with me was how well rounded the characters are, specifically the Del Valles– they aren’t stereotypes of Latinos, they’re smart, witty, and can hold their own.” Martinez’s approach to bringing her character to life centers her similarities with Tania, “Like her, I’m Mexican American and my family has been here for over two hundred years without immigrating– the parts of the U.S. my family lives on are the same they’ve lived on for centuries.” Drawing these connections allows for stronger engagement both between actors and their characters and between audience members and the story. “I love ‘slice of life’ plays for that very reason,” says Martinez.
The creative team hopes to strike the balance between the narrative’s comedic elements and the greater social issues the piece speaks to. Martinez notes, “It’s okay to laugh, despite it also serving a larger cause and speaking to the fears we have as a society– the fear of what we don’t know, and the questions we have about others due to cultural differences.”
Wilson quotes an old saying, “If you want someone to drink castor oil, get them laughing and pour it in.” He notes, “The same is true for drinking the truth.” Wilson believes that “laughter opens us up to possibilities and healing,” so in a story that speaks to us in the here and now, we find common ground through comedic truth.
Caycedo hopes, “audiences laugh a lot, which they will, but also consider the biases they may have against others and how they can be hurtful. For those audience members who have felt the sting of being seen through a stereotypical lens, I hope they feel some comfort and catharsis in the Del Valles fighting back.”
Martinez adds, “I hope the audience will see that we all have similarities in our struggles, and though our differences are what make us unique, they also make us relatable to one another. For me, the whole point of theatre is to experience a perspective you otherwise wouldn’t– come see Native Gardens because it’ll make you laugh and it’ll make you think.
Native Gardens will be playing on the front lawn of the Wilton House Museum from June 23–26, 2023 (Rain Dates: June 27–28, 2023). Purchase General Admission tickets below. The lawn opens at 6pm to the public for picnics. The show will begin at 7pm and will run for 90 minutes. Parking is limited. Carpooling is encouraged. Patrons should bring their own food and beverages, lawn chairs and picnic blankets.
Recommended for audiences 14 and up.
